Prosecutor Worthy Says Loaded Guns Around Kids Should Be a Crime

Wayne County’s prosecutor says her office is drafting legislation to outlaw keeping an unsecured, loaded weapon in a home with children.

Prosecutor Kym Worthy says she’s seen too many children in Detroit and other cities accidentally killed from playing with guns left unattended by adults.

“Gun owners I think are mostly responsible. And I think gun owners want to be responsible for the most part, but we do have some who are not, and as a result of their irresponsibility, innocent lives are lost,” says Worthy.

“One child dying this way is one child too many. And these are completely preventable, completely and totally preventable if we just have responsibility on behalf of the people who have guns in their homes.”

Worthy says her office has had to deal with seven gun deaths in the past year where children got hold of an unsecured firearm.

She has charged parents and other relatives with child abuse and manslaughter for gun-related deaths.

Worthy hopes to present a draft bill to the Legislature later this year.

State Rep. Jim Townsend (D-Royal Oak) has already introduced similar legislation in the state House, with 20 other Democrats having signed on to the bill. 27 other states have similar laws on the books.

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